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Blue Jackets' Valeri Nichushkin: Gets goal in preseason win
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Nichushkin scored a goal on three shots and went plus-2 in Thursday's 4-0 preseason win over the Penguins.
Nichushkin is looking at second-line usage in his first year with the Blue Jackets. He looked good on a line with Sean Monahan and Dmitri Voronkov in this contest. Nichushkin isn't a threat to produce at a point-per-game pace and has missed at least 10 games in each of the last five campaigns. If he can stay relatively healthy and find chemistry with his new teammates, he can contribute around a 50-point pace.
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Blue Jackets' Kirill Marchenko: Scores in preseason win
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Marchenko scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 4-0 preseason win over the Penguins.
Marchenko remains the Blue Jackets' top-line right winger entering 2026-27, but he has indicated he won't re-sign with the team. He's entering a contract year, so he'll be motivated to play well in an effort to land with a contender. Marchenko should still get top billing on the power play as long as he's with Columbus, and he carries 30-goal, 70-point potential.
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Blue Jackets' Dmitri Voronkov: Deals two helpers
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Voronkov notched two assists, two hits and a plus-2 rating in Thursday's 4-0 preseason win over the Penguins.
Voronkov was on a line with Valeri Nichushkin and Sean Monahan, a trio that could open 2026-27 as the Blue Jackets' second line. Voronkov has a chance at a fresh start in head coach Rick Bowness's first full season behind the bench, though the winger had just three points while averaging 9:58 of ice time after Bowness took over in January of last season. A potential top-six job and power play should position Voronkov well for a bounce-back year.
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Blue Jackets' Cam Talbot: Posts preseason shutout
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Talbot posted a 15-save shutout in Thursday's 4-0 preseason win over the Penguins.
Talbot looked good, though he was essentially up against the AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton roster. With three goals allowed on 41 shots over two games this preseason, Talbot has put in a good audition for the backup role behind Jet Greaves. Pheonix Copley, who cleared waivers Thursday, is also in the mix for that spot, but he can be moved to the AHL without needing waivers again for the next 30 days, which gives Talbot a bit more security.
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Blue Jackets' Pheonix Copley: Still on NHL roster
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Copley successfully cleared waivers Thursday, but he's still on Columbus' roster.
If Copley makes the Blue Jackets' Opening Night roster, it will likely be as the No. 3 netminder behind Cam Talbot and Jet Greaves. Columbus also has Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder), but there's no timetable for his return. Copley had a 2.59 GAA and a .901 save percentage in 33 regular-season appearances with AHL Ontario in 2025-26.
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Blue Jackets' Adam Fantilli: Ends contract dispute
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Fantilli agreed to terms on a six-year, $82.5 million contract with Columbus on Thursday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Fantilli has reached the 50-point threshold in each of the previous two seasons, including setting new personal bests last year in assists (35), points (59) and power-play points (13). The 21-year-old center will have to get up to speed quickly, but he should be a near lock for a top-six role Opening Night against the Sabres on Oct. 1.
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Blue Jackets' Caleb MacDonald: Placed on non-roster injured reserve
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MacDonald (lower body) was put on non-roster injured reserve Wednesday.
MacDonald sustained the injury early in training camp. His placement on non-roster injured reserve suggests that he won't be ready for the start of the regular season. MacDonald had three goals, 12 points and 74 PIM in 58 regular-season appearances with AHL Cleveland in 2025-26.
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Blue Jackets' Riley Bezeau: On non-roster injured reserve
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Bezeau was moved to non-roster injured reserve Wednesday.
Bezeau entered training camp with the injury, and his placement on the non-roster list is probably an indication that he won't be ready for the start of the 2026-27 campaign. He had five goals, seven points and 74 PIM in 24 regular-season outings with AHL Cleveland in 2025-26.
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Blue Jackets' Pheonix Copley: Put on waivers
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Copley was placed on waivers by Columbus on Wednesday, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
When Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) underwent surgery in August, it initially looked like Copley would enter the campaign as the Blue Jackets' No. 2 goaltender. However, Cam Talbot signed a one-year, $950,000 contract with Columbus on Sept. 15, and he is now projected to be Jet Greaves' backup until Merzlikins is healthy. As a consequence, Copley is slated to open the upcoming campaign in the minors, assuming he goes unclaimed.
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Blue Jackets' James Malatesta: Put on waivers
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Malatesta was placed on waivers by Columbus on Wednesday, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Malatesta had 10 goals, 18 points and 87 PIM in 57 regular-season appearances with AHL Cleveland in 2025-26. He's slated to spend most, if not all, of the upcoming campaign in the minors.
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Blue Jackets' Damon Severson: Status uncertain for Opening Night
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Head coach Rick Bowness said Thursday that he isn't yet sure whether Severson (shoulder) will be ready for the Blue Jackets' Opening Night matchup against the Sabres on Oct. 1, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Severson underwent shoulder surgery in early April that ended his 2025-26 campaign prematurely, and it's not yet clear whether he'll be ready to suit up once the 2026-27 regular season begins. Bowness said Wednesday that the defenseman tells him "every day" that he "feels good." The Blue Jackets have consistently increased Severon's contact workload in practice.
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Blue Jackets' Owen Sillinger: Placed on waivers
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Sillinger was put on waivers by Columbus on Wednesday, per Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Sillinger had 14 goals, 34 points and 50 PIM in 69 regular-season outings with AHL Cleveland in 2025-26. He inked a one-year, two-way contract with the Blue Jackets over the summer.
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Blue Jackets' Dante Fabbro: Recovery ongoing
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Fabbro (upper body) could be in danger of missing Opening Night against the Sabres on Oct. 1, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports Wednesday.
Fabbro's recovery is reportedly not going as quickly as the team had hoped, raising doubts regarding his availability for the season opener. With Damon Severson (shoulder) also working his way back from injury, the absence of Fabbro could create a significant gap on the Jackets' blue line.
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Blue Jackets' Cam Talbot: Allows three goals in preseason defeat
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Talbot turned aside 23 of 26 shots during Tuesday's 5-1 preseason loss to Buffalo.
Talbot made his preseason debut Tuesday and played the first two periods before being replaced by Evan Gardner. Talbot was perfect during the first frame but allowed three goals in the second period and didn't get much offensive support. Talbot is also slated to defend the home crease against the Penguins in Thursday's preseason matchup and will likely serve as Jet Greaves' backup to begin the regular season since Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) doesn't have a timetable to return.
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Blue Jackets' Mikael Pyyhtia: Sustains lower-body injury
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Pyyhtia (lower body) won't return to Tuesday's game versus the Sabres.
Pyyhtia was ruled out prior to the start of the third period. The 24-year-old was already a long shot for the Opening Night roster, and an injury makes things more complicated for him. Pyyhtia is likely to spend most of 2026-27 with AHL Cleveland.
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Blue Jackets' Cam Talbot: Set for next two preseason games
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Talbot will defend the road net in Tuesday's game against Buffalo and patrol the home crease in Thursday's matchup versus Pittsburgh, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Talbot posted a 12-9-6 record with a 3.19 GAA and an .883 save percentage over 34 appearances for Detroit in the 2025-26 regular season. Talbot will likely be Jet Greaves' backup to begin the 2026-27 campaign due to the absence of Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder).
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Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Will start preseason finale
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Greaves will get the starting nod on the road versus the Red Wings on Saturday, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Greaves posted 16 saves without allowing a goal over two periods in Monday's preseason opener against Detroit. The 25-year-old netminder will get a bit of rest before a final tune-up in the last game of the exhibition slate. Greaves is projected to be the Blue Jackets' starter this year.
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Blue Jackets' Luca Del Bel Belluz: Sporting non-contact jersey
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Del Bel Belluz (shoulder) wore a non-contact jersey during Tuesday's practice, Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports.
Del Bel Belluz has dealt with a shoulder stinger since last Friday, but he has still participated in recent practices. He generated one assist, 11 shots on net, 10 blocked shots and three hits in 14 appearances for Columbus during the 2025-26 regular season. He is competing for a fourth-line role with the Blue Jackets at training camp.
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Blue Jackets' Conor Garland: Scores game-winner in shootout
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Garland scored the game-winning goal in Monday's 1-0 exhibition shootout win over the Red Wings.
Garland received 20:27 of ice time Monday, which was the most among Blue Jackets forwards. That's a relatively encouraging sign for the 30-year-old winger, who averaged just 13:01 of ice time over 21 games with Columbus last season, compared to the 18:57 he averaged across 50 games with Vancouver in 2025-26. Garland registered at least 46 points between 2021-22 and 2024-25, so he could end up having appeal as a depth option for fantasy managers if he earns the trust of head coach Rick Bowness when the regular season commences.
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Blue Jackets' Jet Greaves: Perfect in Monday's preseason contest
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Greaves turned aside all 16 shots he faced in Monday's 1-0 preseason shootout win over the Red Wings.
Greaves played the first 40 minutes of this game, while Pheonix Copley replaced him to start the third period. Elvis Merzlikins (shoulder) has no timeline for a return, so Greaves is poised to handle the majority of starts for Columbus in the early going, even with the addition of veteran Cam Talbot to the goaltending room.
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